When were the Olympic Games reintroduced?

When were the Olympic Games reintroduced?

The ancient Olympic Game s evolved out of religious festivals honouring the Greek Gods such as Zeus, the Chief God. These festivals are believed to have dated back to 900 BC. At this time, the Games were held every 4 years, involving one event- a race held over 192 meters. By about 650 BC, the Ancient games were held over five days, involving running, wrestling, the pentathlon, horse riding and chariot racing.

The games continued for over 1000 years before Roman Emperor Theodosius I brought the movement to an end in 393 AD, by banning all Pagan worship, which included the Olympic Games.

In the 1880’s a French historian Pierre de Coubertin formed the idea of a modern revival to the ancient Olympic Games. The idea was publicly launched in 1892, and by 1894 the International Olympic Committee was formed with the idea of staging the games every four years. A new marble stadium was constructed at Athens and the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, four years before the beginning of the 20th century.